Assassin Paintball

Airsoft Vest

Paintball Vs. Airsoft Guns

Whether you prefer Paintball or Airsoft is entirely a matter of personal choice, although both games have similar attributes, they commonly attract different markets. Paintball is characterized by its fast pace and hard hitting action, whilst Airsoft players welcome team participation, using tactics and strategies.

The guns used in airsoft and paintball are quite different; Airsoft guns and rifles, whether gas, electric or sniper rifles or spring guns, are popular as they are highly realistic replicas of military guns and a relatively cheaper option. The main difference between the types of gun is that paintball guns have a hopper that the paintballs are poured into, whereas airsoft guns use clips. Clips make loading and unloading a straightforward process and the extra clips are light to carry. In paintball a belt or vest is necessary to hold the big cylinders of paintballs.

Start up packages for Airsoft or Paintball are around the same price, however, further costs are incurred when purchasing ammunition and carrying out any maintenance and repairs to the guns. Taken as a whole, Airsoft guns work out less expensive as Airsoft pellets are a lot cheaper to produce than paintballs are and the ammunition used makes the guns less liable to ‘jam.’ The biggest outlay is the purchase of the Airsoft gun, after this initial cost everything extra is relatively cheap.

Airsoft guns have a longer range than paintball guns with most Airsoft guns shooting between 250fps to 600fps, an Airsoft pellet will also travel a lot further than a paintball pellet will.

Ammunition used in games is paintballs and 6mm BBs in airsoft games. Games can be played in woods/forests or in an open area, if the area is wooded the paintballs can have a problem reaching their target as the trees and bushes stop their progress and can even break them. Airsoft pellets are much smaller and the likelihood of them hitting something in the way is less probable.

Airsoft guns are more accurate than paintballs, so games are concluded faster as targets are hit. Players can also easily avoid paintballs, if they see it coming in beforehand it’s quite easy to move out of its way, whereas Airsoft pellets are too small to see when they are traveling at a high speed and would be very difficult to avoid.

Airsoft guns are much easier to maneuver with as they are lightweight and easy to hold, whilst paintball guns tend to be large and unwieldy with external CO2 and N2 or compressed air cylinders. Also, the hopper can occasionally get in the way.

Paintball guns need to be oiled, regularly cleaned and refilled each time you want to play. If you own a gas airsoft gun it will also need refilling each time you play, but electric and spring airsoft guns require no gas at all. Both types of guns will require regular maintenance to ensure they stay in good working condition. Although a simple process, paintball guns will need the barrel cleaned on a regular basis and they do have more parts than airsoft guns proving more costly to fix.

Both Paintball and Airsoft guns each have their individual advantages and disadvantages. How the gun looks, costs, speed and effectiveness will all contribute towards the final decision you make.

About the Author

Michiel van Kets provides articles for Charles Bernardi, who is the owner of Strike Back Now which is a retailer of Airsoft Guns and many licensed brands of replica Airsoft Guns from top manufactures such as Cybergun, Soft Air and others.

Airsoft Vest
Airsoft Crossdraw Vest Review

Swiss Arms Tactical Airsoft Vest $39.95 Check out this Tactical Airsoft Vest that is great for carrying all your airsoft accessories!

Tiras Vest, Tan $65.94 Tiras vest Tan This tactical vest by Swiss Arms is great for extended airsoft play. The front and side compartments provide enough room to store spare magazines, pistols and other airsoft accessories with ease.

UTG Airsoft Deluxe Tactical Vest, OD Green $57.54 Deluxe tactical vest with quick draw holster, pouch and belt 4 Deluxe adjustable rifle mag pouches - universal design, each holding 1 - 2 most popular mags. Features velcro closure, drain holes and elastic to hold mags tight. 1 Deluxe universal holster - adjustable position, extra mag pouch. 2 Large internal zippered map/ document pouches. 3 Deluxe universal pistol mag/flashlight pouches - adjustable height 1 radio pouch, 1 large ID pouch. Sniper shoulder Heavy duty back loop system - to carry additional gear/tools Fully adjustable in girth and length (one size fits most), waist fits up to 60", belt fits up to 55" Complete with great quality pistol belt with pouches High quality zippers

UTG Airsoft Deluxe Tactical Vest, Black $57.3 Deluxe tactical vest with quick draw holster, pouch and belt 4 Deluxe adjustable rifle mag pouches (universal design), each holding 1 - 2 most popular mags. Features velcro closure, drain holes and elastic to hold mags tight. 1 Deluxe universal holster adjustable position, extra mag pouch. 2 Large internal zippered map/ document pouches. 3 Deluxe universal pistol mag/flashlight pouches, adjustable height 1 radio pouch, 1 large ID pouch. Sniper shoulder Heavy duty back loop system to carry additional gear/tools Fully adjustable in girth and length (one size fits most), waist fits up to 56", belt fits up to 55" Complete with great quality pistol belt with pouches High quality zippers

What Equipment do I need to get started in Airsoft?

If you are just starting out in airsoft, you may be wondering what equipment you should purchase to ensure that you are prepared. Many airsoft players get started by purchasing the essentials and then building out their airsoft collections by adding multiple types of guns, accessories and gear over time. If you are playing for the first time, you may want to borrow airsoft guns and gear if possible to make sure the sport is for you. If you love playing airsoft and are ready to invest in your own airsoft guns and gear, congratulations! Airsoft is an exciting, adrenaline charged sport that promotes camaraderie and gives players a taste of combat in a safe environment.

While many players slowly build up a collection of airsoft guns and equipment, others take the full plunge and purchase every gun and accessory that seems appealing from the start. The latter approach certainly will not hurt if money is no concern, but this is not the case for many airsoft players who are just getting started. If you are on a limited budget, you may want to invest in these essentials up front, and later purchase items such as extra guns, scopes, and tactical vests that you may want down the line:

Safety Goggles: Eye protection is absolutely required for any airsoft skirmish, so purchasing a quality pair of safety goggles that fits you well should be a worthwhile investment. Just any safety goggles, such as those used for power tool operation or skiing, will not do. Shopping for goggles on reputable airsoft websites will help ensure that the safety goggles you purchase are suitable for protecting you from injury by airsoft fire. Before you buy, be sure to find out if the field you will be playing most often has requirements on the type of eye protection that must be worn.

Airsoft Gun: An airsoft gun is a necessary purchase when you are investing in airsoft equipment of your own. The right airsoft gun to buy depends on your budget and personal preferences. Hopefully you have some friends or fellow airsoft players who will let you try out their guns to get a feel for your preferences. Researching different types and models online can be helpful, but nothing beats trying one out! If testing out a few guns is not an option, talking to fellow airsofters about what brands and models they like and why will give you some excellent insight into the factors that are important in choosing the right airsoft gun.

BBs: Obviously you will need ammunition before you enter a skirmish, but be sure that you get the right kind of BBs for your gun. BBs are available in different sizes, and using the right type is essential to the longevity of your gun. For more information about choosing the right BBs for your gun, check out What kind of BBs are right for my airsoft gun?

Camouflage clothing/BDUs: Okay, so a set of BDUs is not a necessity to be able to play airsoft, but is worth mentioning since most players will be dressed in camouflage for the game. Wearing camouflage will help during a skirmish because it can help you avoid being spotted by opponents. Many players also like the fact that wearing realistic military attire contributes to the realism of the game.

Getting some field experience in a few skirmishes and interacting with other players will undoubtedly expose you to new guns and equipment, so you may want to start out by purchasing the essentials to get a feel for what else you would like to add to your airsoft collection. When you are deciding what to buy, do not underestimate the power of talking with experienced airsoft enthusiasts, who will more than likely be thrilled to discuss the different aspects of airsoft equipment with you!

About the Author

About the Author: Mike Zhang is the VP of Operations of Airsoft Megastore, an Airsoft retailer offering electric and gas powered airsoft guns. Please visit Airsoft Megastore to shop for electric airsoft rifles or the right Airsoft gas gun for players of any experience level.

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Airsoft Tactical Duty Web Nylon Belt ACU $6.99 Tactical Duty Belt is designed as a 2" wide pistol/utility belt with a quick release buckle. The user is able to mount pouches such as dump pouch and a drop leg holster. This belt features two (2) removable horizontally mounted pistol magazine pouches. It will fit sizes up to a 44" waist....

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